The Comedy Stylings Of David Brooks

Illustration by DonkeyHotey for The Politics Blog (Based on Images from the AP)

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Another note on stationery from the Young Fogies Club dropped through the mail slot here at the shebeen this morning. Moral Hazard has been putting a few thoughts down on paper again because he has a head full of ideas that are driving him insane and a mouth full of...cotton candy. (This has been your occasional Firesign.) He would like us to know that David Brooks, to whom he belongs for photo op purposes, has launched a new career.

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"Jesus help me, he's doing stand-up now," MH writes. "Every night, he takes out the club's karaoke machine and works on his material. He kills the room here. Seriously, even Douthat, the houseboy, came downstairs from his cell to see what the ruckus was. He tripped over his cassock on the way down the stairs, so that was bad. I can't figure it out. I don't think it's that funny, but they love it here. I've typed up a transcript. You figure it out. I have balls to lick."

Moral Hazard is a tough room but, I have to admit, I think this is pretty good. Brooks ought to be appearing on Fuds Comedy Jam any week now.

This is a moment when progressives have found their worldview and their agenda. This move opens up a huge opportunity for the rest of us in the center and on the right. First, acknowledge that the concentration of wealth is a concern with a beefed up inheritance tax. Second, emphasize a contrasting agenda that will reward growth, saving and investment, not punish these things, the way Piketty would. Support progressive consumption taxes not a tax on capital. Third, emphasize that the historically proven way to reduce inequality is lifting people from the bottom with human capital reform, not pushing down the top. In short, counter angry progressivism with unifying uplift.

And then we'll all go to the Bundy Ranch for a barbecue.

Conservatism could really triumph if it weren't for, you know, conservatives. The greatest humor always comes from sadness. David Brooks is the clown that cried.